Posted 09-02-2001 at 09:26:25
[Reply][Send Email]Does anyone know an easy way to trim goats feet? We've tried standing them on ground and one person hold while other trims - not good! We've tried laying them down on their side while one holds down and other trims. Works for some of them but not all. We've straddled them, put them up on platform and stood them there while trying to hold and trim. All these methods kill us!!! Is there something we can rig up and not have to fight them while we are trimming? Any advice is greatly appreciated. The other alternative we have done is pay someone $30 - $40 to trim them. We decided to buy an $80 pair of clippers and save money by doing it ourselves. Anyone want to buy some clippers?

mugsy3

Posted 09-05-2001 at 20:39:46
[Reply] [No Email]Good idea about the rock piles! I got 6 goats that need hooves trimmed. I put it off because it is a workout for me! I stradle them and hold tight.I hate to say it but the best hoof trimmers I got are garden trimmers I got at Walmart for $5. Trimming dream. I've tried different means but basic gardening sheers are cheap and work great. Now I'll just go clip their hooves and work off 10 lbs!

Freddies Mom

Posted 09-02-2001 at 15:12:40
[Reply][Send Email]Thanks everyone. Great advice. The rock pile sounds like a perfrect solution. If that doesn't work, we'll try the other. Thanks again. I'll let you know how we make out.

Hogman

Posted 09-02-2001 at 18:13:38
[Reply] [No Email] Hi "Mom" I'm gonna beat a dead horse here, but We never had a problem with goat hooves here at rock pile plantation. This part of tha world any rock under a quarter inch is considered top soil.

Dreamweaver

Posted 09-02-2001 at 10:42:28
[Reply] [No Email]I dont know the first thing about goats, but I'm wondering if the same type of thing would work that groomers use to groom dogs, like a harness and tie? My pom is a complete fur ball, and trust me, she would eat your arm off for lunch if you tried to trim her feet and legs without having her held firmly in that kinda of device. Are you familiar with it?

Burrhead

Posted 09-02-2001 at 12:30:35
[Reply] [No Email]I headstall these goats up on a milking stancion when I have to trim. That way they are standing up and don't get so skiddish about what you are doing to them.

The easiest and simplest way to keep a goats hooves trimmed is this.

Put a dump truck load of crushed concrete or broken brick in your pasture for the goats to play on. The hard surface climbing and running will keep the hoof trimmed like Ma Nature intended.

Since I put the crushed concrete pile with big chunks in my pasture I have'nt had to trim any of my goats at all.

Wolf

Posted 09-02-2001 at 12:38:26
[Reply] [No Email]I gotta agree here. The rockpile that the pen is made around for mine keeps me from having to trim.

Posted 09-02-2001 at 14:41:33
[Reply] [No Email]You weren't silly at all, DW. The neck loop and frame used by dog groomers is too lightweight to work on a goat, but the idea is the same as for a milking stanchion, which is a sturdy wooden or metal frame that restrains the goat around the neck. What works for me is to tie the goat with its head in the corner of a stall and, if it acts up, having a helper use his body like a squeeze chute to push it against the wall while I trim. I've gotten to where, if I don't have a helper, I can do "the squeeze" and the trimming all alone, but it will make you sweat to do it solo on an unruly one.